Chrysanthemum plant named ‘DLFALMA3’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant named ‘DLFALMA3’, characterized by its upright plant habit; uniform growth habit; dark green-colored leaves; uniform and freely flowering habit; strong upright flowering stems; single-type inflorescences with pale purple-colored ray florets; resistance to Fusarium; relative tolerance to low production temperatures; and good postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Chrysanthemum X morifolium.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DLFALMA3’.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY INVENTOR/APPLICANT & ASSIGNEE

A Columbian Plant Breeder's Rights application for the instant plant wasfiled by the Assignee, Deliflor Royalties B.V. of Maasdijk, TheNetherlands on Aug. 2, 2020, application number A202700. Foreignpriority is not claimed to this application.

The Inventor/Applicant and Assignee assert that no publications noradvertisements relating to sales, offers for sale or public distributionoccurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of thisapplication. Any information about the claimed plant would have beenobtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from theInventor/Applicant and/or the Assignee. Inventor/Applicant and Assigneeclaim a prior art exception under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosureand/or sales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior tothe effective filing date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum plant, botanically known as Chrysanthemum x morifolium,typically grown as a cut flower Chrysanthemum and hereinafter referredto by the name ‘DLFALMA3’.

The new Chrysanthemum plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Maasdijk, The Netherlands. The objective ofthe breeding program is to create new cut flower Chrysanthemum plantswith numerous attractive inflorescences.

The new Chrysanthemum plant is a naturally-occurring whole plantmutation of Chrysanthemum x morifolium ‘DLFALMA1’, not patented. The newChrysanthemum plant was discovered and selected as a single floweringplant from within a population of plants of ‘DLFALMA1’ in a controlledgreenhouse environment in Maasdijk, The Netherlands in November, 2018.

Asexual reproduction of the new Chrysanthemum plant by vegetativeterminal cuttings since November, 2018 in a controlled greenhouseenvironment in Maasdijk, The Netherlands, has shown that the uniquefeatures of this new Chrysanthemum plant are stable and reproduced trueto type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have not been observed under allpossible combinations of environmental conditions and culturalpractices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations inenvironmental conditions such as temperature, daylength and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘DLFALMA3’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘DLFALMA3’ as a new and distinct Chrysanthemumplant:

-   -   1. Upright plant habit; uniform growth habit.    -   2. Dark green-colored leaves.    -   3. Uniform and freely flowering habit.    -   4. Strong upright flowering stems.    -   5. Single-type inflorescences with pale purple-colored ray        florets.    -   6. Resistant to Fusarium (Fusarium oxysporum).    -   7. Relatively tolerant to low production temperatures.    -   8. Good postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ primarily from plants of themutation parent, ‘DLFALMA1’ in ray floret color as ray florets of plantsof the new Chrysanthemum are pale purple in color whereas ray florets ofplants of ‘DLFALMA1’ are white in color.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can be compared to plants ofChrysanthemum X morifolium ‘DLFETO3’, not patented. In side-by-sidecomparisons, plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ primarily fromplants of ‘DLFETO3’ in ray floret color as ray florets of plants of thenew Chrysanthemum are lighter purple in color than ray florets of plantsof ‘DLFETO3’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Chrysanthemum plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.

The photograph at the top of the sheet (FIG. 1) comprises a sideperspective view of a typical flowering stem of ‘DLFALMA3’ grown as aspray-type cut flower.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet (FIG. 2) is a close-up view ofupper (left) and lower (right) surfaces of typical inflorescences (topof figure) and typical leaves (bottom of figure) of ‘DLFALMA3’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown during the autumn in ground beds in aglass-covered greenhouse in Maasdijk, The Netherlands and under culturalpractices typical of commercial cut Chrysanthemum production. Plantswere initially given long day/short night treatments followed by shortday/long night treatments to induce flower initiation and development.During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18° C.to 25° C., night temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 22° C. and lightlevels averaged 8 klux. Plants were grown as single-stem spray-typeplants and were nine weeks old when the photographs and the descriptionwere taken. In the following description, color references are made toThe Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except wheregeneral terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Chrysanthemum X morifolium ‘DLFALMA3’.-   Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of Chrysanthemum    x morifolium ‘DLFALMA1’, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About four days at            temperatures about 20° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About six days at            temperatures about 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 13 days            at temperatures about 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 15 days            at temperatures about 20° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically light brown in            color, actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate            composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate            temperature and physiological age of roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching, medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous single-type cut flower            that is typically grown as a single stem spray-type; upright            plant habit; vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 60            cm.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of inflorescence            plane.—About 66.4 cm.        -   Plant (spray) diameter.—About 20.7 cm.        -   Flowering stem length.—About 58.7 cm.        -   Flowering stem diameter.—About 7 mm.        -   Flowering stem internode length.—About 2.3 cm.        -   Flowering stem strength.—Strong.        -   Flowering stem aspect.—Erect.        -   Flowering stem texture and luster.—Moderately pubescent;            slightly glossy.        -   Flowering stem color, developing.—Close to 143B.        -   Flowering stem color, developed.—Close to 146A.        -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Alternate; simple. Length:            About 10.7 cm. Width: About 7 cm. Shape, in overall outline:            Broadly ovate. Apex: Abruptly acute, minute. Base:            Attenuate. Margin: Palmately lobed, coarsely dentate to            serrate; sinuses convergent to parallel and shallow to            medium in depth. Texture and luster, upper surface:            Moderately to densely pubescent, not rugose; moderately            velvety; slightly glossy. Texture and luster, lower surface:            Moderately to densely pubescent, prominent venation;            slightly velvety; slightly glossy. Venation pattern:            Pinnate, reticulate. Color: Developing leaves, upper            surface: Close to NN137A. Developing leaves, lower surface:            Close to between 138A and 147B. Fully developed leaves,            upper surface: Close to between NN137A and 147A; venation,            close to 147B. Fully developed leaves, lower surface: Close            to 147B; venation, close to 146B. Petioles: Length: About            7 mm. Diameter: About 3 mm by 4 mm. Strength: Moderately            strong. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces:            Moderately pubescent; slightly glossy. Color, upper surface:            Close to 146B to 146C; edges, close to NN137B. Color, lower            surface: Close to 147B; edges, close to 137B. Stipules:            Quantity and appearance: Two leafy stipules, opposite, at            the petiole attachment to the stem. Length: About 6 mm.            Width: About 4 mm. Shape, in overall outline: Roughly ovate.            Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Moderately            densely pubescent; slightly glossy. Color, upper surface:            Close to between NN137A and 147A. Color, lower surface:            Close to 147B.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Appearance.—Single-type inflorescence form with obovate to            elliptic-shaped ray florets and tubular disc florets;            inflorescences borne perpendicular to peduncles and face            upright to about 25° from vertical; ray and disc florets            develop acropetally on a capitulum.        -   Fragrance.—Faintly fragrant; typical of Chrysanthemums.        -   Flowering response.—Under natural conditions, plant flower            in the autumn/winter in the Northern Hemisphere; at other            times of the year, inflorescence initiation and development            can be induced under short day/long night conditions (at            least 13.5 hours of darkness); uniform flowering habit and            short response time, plants exposed to two weeks of long            day/short night conditions after planting followed by            photoinductive short day/long night conditions flower about            50 days later when grown as a spray-type.        -   Postproduction longevity.—Good postproduction longevity;            after a seven-day storage period, cut flowers will maintain            good color and substance for about two weeks in an interior            environment; inflorescences persistent.        -   Quantity of inflorescences.—Typically grown as a spray-type,            about 31 inflorescences develop per flowering stem.        -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter, grown as a spray-type: About            6.8 cm. Depth (height), grown as a spray-type: About 3 cm.            Disc diameter, grown as a spray-type: About 1.4 cm.        -   Receptacles.—Height: About 3 mm. Diameter: About 7 mm.            Shape: Flattened globular. Color: Close to 145A and 145C.        -   Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 1.7 cm. Diameter: About            1.4 cm. Shape: Ovoid. Texture and luster: Moderately            pubescent; slightly glossy. Color: Developing involucral            bracts, close to NN137B and 138A; developing ray florets,            close to 75C.        -   Ray florets.—Quantity and arrangement: About 26 arranged in            about two whorls. Length: About 3.6 cm, varying between 3.4            cm and 3.8 cm. Width: About 1.4 cm, varying between 1.3 cm            and 1.5 mm. Shape: Obovate to elliptic; slightly convex,            moderately carinate and slightly twisting. Apex: Shallowly            praemorse. Base: Cuneate and fused at the base. Margin:            Entire; not undulate. Aspect: About 10° to 25° from            vertical. Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth,            glabrous; moderately velvety; matte. Texture and luster,            lower surface: Smooth, glabrous; slightly velvety; slightly            glossy. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to between            75D and 76D. When opening, lower surface: Close to between            76D and N155B. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to between            N155B and NN155D; venation, close to between N155B and            NN155D; color does not change with subsequent development.            Fully opened, lower surface: Close to N155B; venation, close            to N155B; color does not change with subsequent development.        -   Disc florets.—Quantity and arrangement: About 130 at the            center of the receptacle. Length: About 5 mm. Diameter:            About 1 mm. Shape: Lower 80% fused into a tube; upper 20%            free. Apex: Acute. Margin, free-part: Entire. Texture and            luster, inner and outer surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; glossy.            Color, when opening, inner and outer surfaces: Close to            157B; proximally, close to 145D and at the apex, close to            2B. Color, fully opening, inner and outer surfaces: Close to            157B; proximally, close to 145D and at the apex, close to            2B.        -   Involucral bracts.—Quantity and arrangement: About 18            arranged in about two whorls. Length: About 8 mm. Width:            About 5.5 mm. Shape: Broadly ovate. Apex: Obtuse. Base:            Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper surface:            Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Texture and luster, lower surface:            Moderately pubescent; matte. Color, upper surface: Close to            146A; lateral margins, translucent and close to 145C to 145D            and apical margins tinged with close to N199A. Color, lower            surface: Close to NN137A; lateral margins, translucent and            close to 145C to 145D and apical margins tinged with close            to N199A.        -   Peduncles.—Length, terminal peduncle: About 3.9 cm.            Diameter, terminal peduncle: About 2.5 mm. Length, third            peduncle: About 6.2 cm. Diameter, third peduncle: About            3 mm. Strength: Strong. Aspect, terminal peduncle: Upright.            Aspect, third peduncle: About 45° from the flowering stem            axis. Texture and luster: Moderately pubescent; moderately            glossy. Color: Close to 137A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets            only. Quantity: About five per floret. Filament length:            About 2 mm. Filament color: Close to 145D. Anther size:            About 0.5 mm by 1.5 mm. Anther shape: Oblong. Anther color:            Close to 151B. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color: Close to            14A. Gynoecium: Present on both ray and disc florets.            Quantity: One per floret. Pistil length: About 5 mm. Style            length: About 4.5 mm. Style color: Close to 145A. Stigma            diameter: About 1 mm. Stigma shape: Cleft to three-parted,            decurrent. Stigma color: Close to 151D. Ovary color: Close            to 157A.        -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit production have            not been observed on plants of the new Chrysanthemum.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have    been observed to be resistant to Fusarium Wilt (Fusarium    oxysporum f. sp. chrysanthemi (strain FoNL1)). To date, plants of    the new Chrysanthemum have not been observed to be resistant to    pests and other pathogens common to Chrysanthemum plants grown under    commercial conditions.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have been    observed to tolerate temperatures ranging from about −12° C. to    35° C. and to be suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 8 to 10.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant named‘DLFALMA3’ as illustrated and described.